Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1887-04-10
oUR GAME AND TIsn Laws.
Communicated

In 1873 the hrst laws for the protec-
ton Of game end fsh were made in this
State. and since then. biennially. they
have been revised and modified no as to
make them more effective. Noticing
during last years fishing season the
rapid decrease Of trout in the humboldt
River. n number Of gentlemen here. all
lovers Of the sport with gun and roll.
discussed the idea of having more
stringent and effective laws cuac,ed to
prevent the destruction Of fish in this
section Of the State, aud il the neces-
sary laws could Ia passed. to form
themselves into q club. whose principal
Object should be. that every member
should pledge himself not to violate ANY
of the laws Low in force for the prUtec-
ton Of game and fish. nor to kill game
or catch fish out of the proper se&"on.
II to use all Legitimate menus aud eff
forts to p event any person from HiOiat-
ing The above named laws. Finding
thTt the principal cause Of the decrease
of trout in the Humboldt was owing to
the wanton destruction Of mature fish
during the spawning season and the use
OF giant powder, gill nets and tmps
during the Summer and Fall, "a bill, cou-
sidered by good authority to be sufi-
cirnt TO pr, vent the above named
abuses. Was introduced into aud passed
10y the last l. gisluture. WAS approved
10y the Governor and is now u law OF the
State. A Sportsmen's CInb. with the
nbJve stated objects, WIS organic d, and
the list was sisued by every one applied
to, except by three or fous who used TO
be considered the leaders OF the sport
with rod. hook md line. Now We have
the authority of the Sup:. of the U. S.
trout hatcheries on McCluul River, in
the northern part Of this coast. that the
regular spawning season of Pacific
Coast trout is from the 18th OF Dec, to
the 18th of May, that every mature ie-
male trout will spa IN from Goo to 1000
eggs. aud il destroyed before spawning
from 60 To 1000 young trout fry will be
destroyed. Further. that trout never
spawn in deep water, but always work
their way up small streams and spawn
ut such places where natural instinct
teaches them that thrir egSs nre SAFE
from destruction. We further have the
authority OF Prof. Baird, U. S. Fish
Commissioner, who says that the only
way To keep streams stocked with ish
i. either to properly protect the mature
fish during the spawning season, which
il the most economical way. or re stock
the stream every year with new fry.
Now theie nre n few amongst us.
about three or four, already mentioned,
-usel IS To name thrm-who immngine
or say that the latest fish Law wits cs.
P~rcinlIy made against them. WHEN they
do say so they know that they are ut.
tering n fHlsehood, ms the law was in
tended to apply to all n.ibr. We know
the law is obnoxious to them, bu: show
uS the law on the statute that is not oh
noxious to the few who do not want to
obey it. 1t IS hard to understand why
men, who stand well in n community
and have been considered good and Inv
abiding cit Ems, should set the example,
not only Of drfying and violating n law
OF the State, but advising and inducing
others to violate them, and il is a little
htrd to understand why public peace
officers, who at IL lime are on the alert
and promptly Mt hand to arrest and COLI
Wet one citizen for violating the Law to
prevent the discharge OF firearms in the
public streets. seem TO be entirely iguor.
nut OF the fact TINT night under heir
noses Other citizens are violating lnws
OF tue State. Ii the parties to whom
the new hsh law is so obnoxious. and
who Prcsi,t in saying that the Law l..
not good, hut il is unconstitutional,
will hnve the manhood to furnish u case
So that the laS can he tested. they may
retain the respect of the members OF the
Sportsmrn Club. They may thin that
they have enough soap in their strong
boxes TO DEFY the law aud public opin.
ion, but perhaps they haven't
a member of the Elko
SpOrtsmcn's Club.